Case construction



July 9, 1968 J. K. BAKER 3,391,765

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United States Patent 3,391,765 CASE CONSTRUCTION James K. Baker, Columbus, Ind., assignor to Arvin Industries, Inc., Columbus, 1nd,, a corporation of Indiana Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 345,045, Feb. 14, 1964. This application June 17, 1966, Ser. No. 562,065

15 Claims. (Cl. 190-49) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A case construction and panel molding therefor in which said case is formed from panel members having a peripheral molding mounted thereon for hingedly interconnecting the panel members and retaining them in alignment with each other.

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 345,045, filed Feb. 14, 1964, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a case construction, and more particularly to the molding and hinge construction for a carrying case.

It is an object of the invention to provide a case construction which will be of attractive appearance, which can be economically manufactured from inexpensive sheetmetal and plastic components, which can be releasably locked in closed position, and which can be provided with a hand grip.

In accordance with the preferred form of the invention, there is provided a pair of opposed shells having a plurality of interconnected side walls. A unitary flexible molding is mounted on the pair of shells. Said molding has a first portion provided with a channeled section received over the edges of one of the shells and a second portion provided with a channeled section received over the edges of the other shell. Said first and second portions of the molding are integrally joined along one side of the case and are separated along the other sides of the casewhereby the molding stretch extending along said one side of the case forms a hinge swingably interconnecting the pair of shells for movement between case open and closed positions.

Conveniently, the adjacent faces of the sections of the first and second molding portions extending along said other sides of the case are provided with matingly engageable shoulders for retaining the shells in alignment with each other when the case is in its closed position. Each of said first and second portions also has a generally U- shaped projection along one of said other sides of the case. The projections are in alignment with each other to thus form a hand grip for said case when it is in its closed position. An elongated rib is also provided on the first portion within the extent of the projection thereon. Said rib is bindingly receivable in a groove in the second portion of the molding for releasably locking the shells in case closed position.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the more detailed description which follows and from the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a case construction embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevation of the case shown in FIG. 1; but with portions thereof being broken away;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the case shown in FIG. 1, but showing said case in an open position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section of a modified embodiment of the case;

3,391,765 Patented July 9, 1968 FIG. 6 is a rear elevation of the case shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section of another modified embodiment of the case; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 99 of FIG. 8.

As shown in the drawings, the case comprises a pair of opposed shells 10 and 12. Said shells are identical in construction and are conveniently formed as sheet-metal stampings. As shown, each of the shells has a plurality of interconnected side walls 14 the ends of which terminate in outwardly projecting peripheral flanges 15 disposed in generally parallel planes when the case is in its closed position.

The shells 10 and 12 are interconnected by a flexible unitary molding 16 conveniently formed from plastic and having an enclosed configuration generally corresponding to the cross-section configuration of the shells 10 and 12. Said molding is provided with a first portion 18 having a channeled section 20 fixedly received over the edges of the fianges 15 on the shell 10. Similarly, a second section 22 is provided on the molding and has a channeled section 24 fixedly received over the flanges 15 on the shell 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the molding portions 18 and 22 are disposed in back to back relation. Said portions 18 and 22 are separated along three sides of the: case, but are integrally interconnected along the fourth side of the case, as at 26. In this manner, the interconnection 26 between the molding portions 18 and 22 forms a hinge for swingably interconnecting the shells 10 and 12 to permit the case to be moved between its open and closed positions. As shown, the portion 18 is shouldered, as at 28, and the portion 22 is shouldered, as at 30, so that the shoulders 28 and 30 will matingly engage each other upon movement of the case into its closed position for holding the shells 10 and 12 in alignment with each other.

Along the side of the case remote from the molding hinge 26, the molding portion 18 is provided with a generally U-shaped projection 34 extending outwardly from the side wall 14 on the shell 10. Similarly, the molding portion 22 is also provided with a generally U-shaped projection 35 extending outwardly from the side wall 14 on the shell 12. The projections 34 and 35 are in alignment with each other, and their adjacent faces are disposed in abut-ting engagement with each other when the case is in its closed position so that said projections form a hand grip for carrying the case from one location to another.

The molding portion 18 is provided with an inwardly angled rib 36 conveniently within the: extent of the projection 34. Said rib is bindingly receivable in an elongated groove 38 formed in the molding portion 22 for releasably locking the shells 10 and 12 in case closed position. Desirably, the molding portions 18 and 22 are provided with outwardly projecting fingers 40 spaced from each other and disposed within the longitudinal extent of the rib 36 and groove 38. By. applying an opposite force to the fingers 40, the rib 36 can be disengaged from the groove 38 for unlocking the case to permit the shells 10 and 12 to swing about the hinge section 26 for movement of the case into its open position shown in FIG. 3.

A modified embodiment of the case is illustrated in FIGS. 5-7. In this embodiment, a pair of shells 42 and 44 each having a plurality of interconnecting side walls 45 are interconnected by a unitary flexible molding 46 having an enclosed configuration generally corresponding to the cross-sectional configuration of the shells. Conveniently, said molding is formed from a heat fusible plastic, such as polypropylene. Said molding is provided with a first portion 47 having a channeled section 48 received over the edges of the side walls 45 of shell molding and has a channeled section 52 received over the edges of the side walls..45 of shell 44. As shown in FIG. 5, the side walls on each of the shells 42 and 44 are provided with pluralities of longitudinally spaced openings 54 within the vertical extents of the molding channeled sections 48 and 52. At each of the openings 54 the molding is heat fused to cause it to flow through said openings and form cross webs 56 interconnecting the legs of the channeled sections 48 and 52 through the openings 54 for thus rigidly and fixedly mounting the molding on the shells.

As shown in FIG. 5, the molding portions 47 and 50 are disposed in back to back relation. Said portions are separated along three sides of the case, but are integrally connected along the fourth side of the case, as at 60. In this manner, the interconnection 60 between the molding portions 47 and 50 forms a hinge for swingably interconnecting the shells 42 and 44 to permit the case to be moved between open and closed positions. As shown, molding portion 47 is provided with a recess 62 and portion 50 is provided with a projection 63 matingly receivable in recess 63 upon movement of the case into its closed position for holding the shells in alignment with each other.

Along the side of the case remote from the hinge 60 molding portion 47 is provided with a U-shaped projection 64 extending outwardly from the side wall of v shell 42. Similarly, molding portion is also provided with a generally U-shaped projection 65 extending outwardly from the side wall of shell 44. The projections 64 and 65 are in alignment with each other, and their adjacent faces are disposed in abutting engagement with each other when the case is in its closed position so that said projections form a hand grip for carrying the case.

Molding portion 50 is also provided with an outwardly projecting lip 66 conveniently within the extent of projection 65. And molding portion 47 is provided with a downwardly angled finger 68 terminating at its lower end in a hook 69 snap-fit over lip 66 for locking the case in closed position. Discngagement of hook 69 from lip 66 will, of course, permit the case to be swung into its open position about the hinge section 60.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, along the hinged side of the case, molding portion 47 is provided with a pair of outwardly projecting arms 70 terminating at their outer ends in enlarged foot-forming buttons 72. Adjacent said buttons, the arms 70 are provided with inwardly directed studs 74 press-fit into openings 75 formed in the adjacent side wall 45 of shell 42. Similarly, molding portion 50 along the same side of the case is also provided with a pair of outwardly projecting arms 76 terminating at their outer ends in enlarged foot-forming buttons 78. Adjacent the buttons 78, and conveniently intermediate said buttons and the channel 52, arms 76 are provided with pairs of inwardly projecting studs 80 press-fit in openings 81 formed in the adjacent Wall of shell 44. Thus, with the case in its closed position, the buttons 72 and 78 define a plurality of feet for supporting the case in an upright position.

Another modified embodiment of the case is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. In this modification, the pair of opposed shells 83 and 84 have their side walls 85 interconnected by a flexible unitary molding 86 having an enclosed configuration generally corresponding to the crosssectional configuration of the shells. Conveniently, said molding is formed from a flexible plastic material, such as polypropylene. Said molding is provided with a first portion '88 having a channeled section 89 received over the edges of the shell 83 and a second portion 90 having a channeled portion 91 received over the edges of the shell 84. As shown, the molding portions 88 and 90 are disposed in back to back relation and are separated along three sides of the case but are integrally connected along thenfourthlside ofthe case as. at 92. In this manner, the interconnection 92 between molding portions 88 and 90 forms a hinge for swingably interconnecting shells 83 and 84 to permit the case to be moved between its open and closed positions. As shown, molding portion 88 is provided with a recess 94, and molding portion 98 is provided with a projection 95 matingly receivable in recess 94 upon movement of the case into its closed position'for holding the shells 83 and '84 in alignment with each other.

As shown in FIG. 9, in order to lock the molding portions 89 and 91 on the shells 83 and 84, longitudinally spaced pairs of adjacent opposed hooks 96 interconnect the legs forming the channel 89 and the legs forming channel 91. The edges of side walls 85 of the shells are provided with longitudinally spaced cutouts 97 disposed in alignment with hooks 96. The opposed edges of the cutouts 97 are provided with inwardly directed fingers 98 whose inner ends are spaced apart a distance less than the distance between the opposed outer edges of each pair of the molding hooks 96. Thus, the fingers 98 can be pressed into the molding channels 89 and 91 with said fingers being snapped under the hooks 96 for fixedly mounting said molding channels on the side walls 85 on the two shells.

As with the other embodiments of the case, molding portion 88 along the side of the case remote from the hinge 90 is provided with a generally U-shaped projection 100 extending outwardly from the side wall of shell 85. Similarly, molding portion 90 is provided with a genera-11y U-shaped projection 101 extending outwardly from the side wall of shell 84. The projections 100' and 101 are in alignment with each other and their adjacent faces are disposed in abutting engagement with each other when the case is closed so that said projections form a hand grip for carrying the case.

Molding portion 90 is also provided with an outwardly projecting lip 102 within the extent of projection 101. And, a downwardly projecting finger 104 on molding portion 88 is provided with a hook 105 releasably receivable over lip 102 for locking the case in its closed position.

While the case has been shown as having a generally rectangular configuration, it is to be understood, of course, that said'case may have any desired configuration so long as the configuration of the molding 16, 46, or 86 corresponds to the case configuration and said molding is provided with a pair of portions separable along a plurality of sides of the case and integrally connected along one side of the case.

I claim:

1. In a case construction, a pair of opposed shells having a plurality of side walls, and a unitary flexible molding having a first portion provided with a channeled section received over the edges of one of said shells and a second portion provided with a channeled section received over the edges of the other of said shells, said first and second portions being integrally joined together along one side of said case and being separated along the other sides of the case whereby the molding along said one side forms a hinge swingably interconnecting said pair of shells for movement between case open and closed positions.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which the adjacent faces of said first and second portions have matingly engageable shoulders for disposing said shells in alignment with each other when the case is in its closed position.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which said shell side walls have pluralities of longitudinally spaced openings formed therein within the extents of the channeled sections of said molding, and each of said channelled sections has the legs of its channel interconnected by a plurality of cross webs extending through the openings in the shell upon which it is received.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which the channeled section of each of said molding portions has a plurality of longitudinally spaced hook means, and the side walls on each of said shells has a plurality of fingers lockingly received under said hook means for mounting said molding on the shells.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 with the addition that said hook means comprise pairs of opposed hooks, and said fingers are formed along the opposed edges of longitudinally spaced recesses formed in the marginal edges of the shell side Walls.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which said first and second molding portions along said one side of the case have longitudinally spaced outwardly extending fingers abutting the adjacent shell side walls and provided with enlarged buttons.

7. The invention as set forth in claim '6 with the addition that said fingers have studs press-fit into openings formed in the shell side Walls.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 1 with the addi' tion that said first and second molding portions have means matingly engageable with each other along one of said other sides of the case for releasably locking the shells in case closed position.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 in which said means comprises an elongated rib on said first portion bindingly receivable in a groove formed in said second portion.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 8 in which said means comprises a rib on said second portion and a finger on said first portion having a hooked end receivable over said rib.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 1 in which each of said first and second molding portions has a generally U-shaped projection along one of said other sides of the case, said projections being in alignment with each other with their adjacent faces in abutting engagement when the case is closed to form a hand grip for said case.

12. In a case construction, a pair of opposed shells having a plurality of side walls, a unitary flexible molding having a first portion provided with a channeled section received over the edges of one of said shells and a second portion provided with a channeled section re ceived over the edges of the other of said shells, said first and second portions being integrally joined together along one side of the case and being separated along the other sides of the case whereby the molding along said one side forms a hinge swingably interconnecting said pair of shells for movement between case open and closed positions, means on said first and second molding portions matingly engageable with each other along one of said other sides of the case for releasably locking the shells in case closed position, and a U-shaped projection on each of said first and second molding portions along one of said other sides of said case forming a hand grip for said case when it is in closed position.

13. In combination, a sheet-metal panel member and an edge molding therefor, said molding having a channel formed therein received over the edge of said panel member, a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses formed in the panel member along said edge, a plurality of longitudinally spaced locking means extending across said channel in alignment with said recesses, each of said locking means including at least one hook disposed in the plane of said edge, and said panel having at least one finger formed in each of said recesses receivable under one of said hooks for retaining said molding on said panel member.

14. The invention as set forth in claim 13 in which each of said locking means comprise a pair of opposed outwardly directed hooks and each of said recesses has a pair of opposed inwardly directed fingers received under said hooks.

15. The invention as set forth in claim 14 in which said fingers are at the opposed edges of said recesses.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,934,256 11/1933 Bronson 264-273 X 2,687,157 8/1954 Cowan 220-31 X 2,791,807 5/1957 Morin 264-273 X 2,821,764 2/1958 Leahy et al. 264-273 X 3,136,398 6/1964 Platt -51 FOREIGN PATENTS 75,481 8/1961 France.

DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner. JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Examiner.

F. T. GARRETT, Assistant Examiner. 

